Christmashttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/4086/all
enThe Week's Hottest Apple News Stories, December 19http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_hottest_apple_news_stories_december_19
<!--paging_filter--><p>This is it: the last hottest news stories of the year! Unless something major drops next week, this is it for 2014. So let's see how things go out this December. Looks like the iPhone 6 is continuing as a juggernaut in the marketplace, and — good news — the order turnaround time is down to one day. Meanwhile, looks like Samsung continues to stumble, Apple Pay is going abroad, the Apple Watch is inspiring others, and Apple is having successes all around. Those stories and more below the fold at this year's end. Happy Holidays to all our Mac|Life readers!</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_hottest_apple_news_stories_december_19#commentsGallery(PRODUCT) REDappleapple newsApple PayApple TVApple Watchboot-upBrothers in Arm 3ChristmasGooglegoogle searchGrids 2.0HanukkahHappy Holidaysiphoneiphone 6iPhone 6 PlusMicrosoftMSNPapers Pleasepdf officerecovery modeSamsungSimCitysmartwatchSat, 20 Dec 2014 01:47:57 +0000J Keirn-Swanson21114 at http://www.maclife.comPrice Drop: The Weekend's Best App Deals, December 19http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_december_19
<!--paging_filter--><p>With the App Store getting ready for the annual holiday break at the end of the year, developers are going crazy with the discounts. We've got some seriously big name titles and some big name houses slashing prices deep and often across the board, so let's stop wasting time and get right to it, because some of these will be gone before you know it.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_december_19#commentsGallerya charlie brown christmasAge of zombiesage of zombies: season 2app dealsApp LifeApp SalesApp StoreAppsAudobonaudobon birdsaudobon field guidesaudobon guides box setsChaos RingsChristmascrowDealsFantastical 2Final FantasyFinal Fantasy IIIfinal fantasy Vfrugal lifeFruit Ninjagrinchhow the grinch stole christmaslegoLEGO Harry PotterLEGO Lord of the RingsLEGO Marvel Super Heroesminigore 2: zombiesMonster Dashphase 10Pig Shotrunner gamessalesslender manslender man originstemple run: ozThe Room Twoweekly dealswhere's my mickeywhere's my perryWhere's My WaterZombiesFri, 19 Dec 2014 22:51:07 +0000J Keirn-Swanson21113 at http://www.maclife.com10 Mac & iOS Stocking Stuffers $25 and Underhttp://www.maclife.com/article/features/10_mac_ios_stocking_stuffers_25_and_under
<!--paging_filter-->http://www.maclife.com/article/features/10_mac_ios_stocking_stuffers_25_and_under#commentsGalleryDealsAstro MiniBambooBelkinChristmasCord TacoGift GuideGift IdeasHanukkahHolidayiHomeiTunesJimistocking stufferTiletripodWedgeFeaturesiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 18 Dec 2014 01:10:59 +0000MacLife Staff21097 at http://www.maclife.comPrice Drop: The Weekend's Best App Deals, December 20http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_december_20
<!--paging_filter--><p>Holy smokes, y'all, we have a bigger than usual Price Drop column this week as there were just too many great apps from big names in iOS that we couldn't stop. If there are apps you've been looking to buy but have been waiting for a sale, well, your ship has come in, kiddos. Get 'em while they're hot, fresh and cheap.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_december_20#commentsGalleryNewsApp Lifeapp saleAppLifeAppsCalendars 5ChristmasclearDay Onediary appsdispatchdraftselectrifyemail appsfrugal lifeinstacast 4iprocrastinateLaunch Center ProNotes Plusoffice 2 hdPodcastsPrice Dropprinter pro for iphonereaddleScanner ProSonicSonic CDsonic the hedgehogstrategoto-doTweetbot 3Twittertwitter appswrite for iPadwrite for iPhoneFri, 20 Dec 2013 21:56:59 +0000J Keirn-Swanson18937 at http://www.maclife.com8 Apps That Revitalize Classic Holiday Storieshttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_revitalize_classic_holiday_stories
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u338318/2013/12/hanukkahjam.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>Winter is upon us, and with it comes the holiday traditions. We come back to our routine year after year because it's comfortable and we've created a precedent for it, but there comes a time to update those customs. We can help you bring the old holiday tales you’ve come to know, love, and learn by heart into today's technologically-powered world with the help of eight great apps. These apps put the classics on display in fresh ways on a new platform that’s perfect for reliving the stories, or even introducing them to a new generation. Hit the App Store and make your iOS device part of your holiday tradition.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_revitalize_classic_holiday_stories#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsBooksChristmasHanukkahholiday storiesHolidaysiOSiPod and iPhoneKwanzaaSoftwareiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 12 Dec 2013 22:22:16 +0000AJ Dellinger18855 at http://www.maclife.com8 Apps for Sending Holiday Greetingshttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_sending_holiday_greetings
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u338318/2013/12/craftstudio.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>The holiday season is upon us once again, and no matter the celebration of your choice, it's sure to come with equal parts enjoyment and stress. There are dishes to be made, gifts to be bought, decorations to be hung, and trips to be made, all on top of your everyday responsibilities. It’s easy to get so caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle that your cards for family and friends sit on the counter until it’s too late to send them out in time. This year, skip shoving the cards into the nearest mailbox at the last second and send them using these helpful apps for sharing holiday greetings.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/8_apps_sending_holiday_greetings#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsCardsChristmasecardsGiftsHolidaysiOSwinteriPadiPhoneiPodThu, 05 Dec 2013 22:44:07 +0000AJ Dellinger18792 at http://www.maclife.comDownload 8 Free Christmas Songs from Apple Store App for iPhonehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/download_8_free_christmas_songs_apple_store_app_iphone
<!--paging_filter--><p>Like it or not, it's the time of the year when holiday music fills the air, and Apple has a special treat in store for those who particularly enjoy the Christmas variety. If you have the Apple Store app installed on your iDevice, you'll find a menu option on the front page for "Holiday Cheer" that grants you access to eight free songs.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u334114/2013/12/holiday.jpg" width="563" height="363" /></p><p>The songs themselves are as follows:</p><ul><li>Ave Maria, Il Volo</li><li>Children Go Where I send Thee, Nick Lowe</li><li>Duck the Halls, The Robertsons</li><li>Joy to the World, Celtic Woman</li><li>Silent Night, Kelly Clarkson</li><li>The Christmas Song, Kool and the Gang</li><li>The First Noel, Mary J. Blige</li><li>What Child is This, Marvin Sapp</li></ul><p>To download them, simply click on the link in the App Store app, which will send you over to the iTunes app with a code ready to redeem. (Don't worry about the "Activate Camera" bit--it's not applicable in this case.) The songs will be available until December 31.</p><p>Unfortunately, even though the iPad now has its own native Apple Store app as of last month, you can only download the playlist through the iPhone store. The app itself is free, however, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id375380948?mt=8" target="_blank">so download it now</a> if you haven't already.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">&nbsp;Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/download_8_free_christmas_songs_apple_store_app_iphone#commentsNewsApple StoreChristmasfree stuffHolidaysiTunesMusicThu, 05 Dec 2013 02:11:24 +0000Leif Johnson18782 at http://www.maclife.comApple 'Unclear' As to Whether It'll Have Enough Retina iPad Minis for Holidayshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_unclear_whether_itll_have_enough_retina_ipad_minis_holidays
<!--paging_filter--><p>Fresh off the <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/want_iphone_5s_hope_youre_ready_be_patient_or_quick" target="_blank">roller coaster ride</a> that was the launch of the iPhone 5s, it looks as though Apple might have some more supply woes in store for the near future. During today's quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked if he thought the company could meet the demand for iPad minis with Retina display this holiday season, and he sounded far from optimistic.</p><p>"It's unclear whether we will have enough for the quarter or not," Cook said during his company's quarterly earnings conference call, as reported by <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/10/28/apple-hints-it-may-not-have-enough-retina-ipad-minis-to-meet-holiday-demand" target="_blank">AppleInsider</a>. "We know how many we will have, but you really don't know the demand until you start shipping." The question was fielded by analyst Steve Milunovich, who works at UBS.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2013/10/ipadminiretina.jpg" width="620" height="372" /></p><p>Rumors have persisted over the last few months that Apple wouldn't be able to handle the demand for the device due to some snags in the production process, and indeed, the very fact that Apple didn't choose to release it at the same time as the iPad Air seems to support such conjecture. Even so, Cook reportedly said it'd be "an iPad Christmas" and that Apple would do "fairly well."</p><p>Cook closed by saying he was "confident" that Apple would nevertheless beat expectation, although he claimed that he wasn't so focused on unit-by-unit sales for the device as on customer satisfaction.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_unclear_whether_itll_have_enough_retina_ipad_minis_holidays#commentsNewsChristmasHolidaysiPadiPad MiniretinaMon, 28 Oct 2013 23:04:19 +0000Leif Johnson18451 at http://www.maclife.comRounded Rectangles: 'Twas Last Night at MacLifehttp://www.maclife.com/article/columns/rounded_rectangles_twas_last_night_maclife
<!--paging_filter--><p><em><a href="http://www.maclife.com/tags/rounded_rectangles"><img src="/files/u330237/2012/11/roundedrectangles_200.jpg" width="200" height="79" class="graphic-right" /></a>Rounded Rectangles is a design column that runs every Tuesday on MacLife.com. This week's Tuesday is Christmas, however, the one day of the year when nobody wants to read about awesome technology and the ways Apple finds to make it special. So while we aren't normally in the habit of publishing poetry, we humbly present the following for your consideration:</em></p><p>'Twas last night at MacLife,<br />And all the presents looked nice<br />Like we'd been good boys and girls,<br />(And even Santa had checked twice.)</p><p>As we sipped on our frapps,<br />And installed a few apps,<br />We sat and waited for Susie<br />To put a gift in our laps.</p><p>But before the first bit<br />Of wrapping paper was ripped,<br />We heard a crash and a boom<br />From the back conference room.</p><p>We popped up quick together,<br />And wondered if whether<br />There was a chance it could be&nbsp;<br />Eight you-know-whats and whoever</p><p>We stood still and sincere,<br />As we each strained to hear<br />The "ho-ho-ho" of a fat man<br />Or the hooves of reindeer.</p><p>But our hopes were misled,<br />Our guest didn't wear red.<br />He wore a black buttoned shirt<br />And blue jeans instead.</p><p>As we all strained to look<br />At what caused us to shook,<br />We saw a familiar face:<br />Apple CEO Tim Cook!</p><p><img src="/files/u330237/2012/11/rr_timcook.jpg" /></p><p>"I have a lot to say,"<br />He said, and reached in his sleigh,<br />"But you know the rules,"<br />and handed out NDAs.</p><p>We filled them out quick,<br />Hoping we wouldn't miss&nbsp;<br />The best gift we could get<br />From Cupertino's St. Nick.</p><p>Our heads filled up with glee,<br />Would he talk Retina screens?<br />Or new iPhones and iPads,<br />Mac Pros and TVs?</p><p>What he said, we can't list<br />(Or else cease &amp; desists)<br />Let's just say you're in store<br />For surprises and twists.</p><p>So save some of that cheer<br />(You'll know why when it's here)<br />Just trust when we tell you<br />It will all be made "clear."</p><p>There'll be adjectives plenty<br />And lots of accolades when he<br />Unveils the next biggest thing<br />(And it's not a new telly.)</p><p>He told of OSes and such,<br />And iScreens you can touch<br />And iWork, Pro towers<br />(But perhaps we're saying too much.)</p><p>He borrowed something from Steve<br />As he packed up to leave:<br />"There's just one more thing<br />To exclaim on this eve."</p><p>He smiled broadly and flat,<br />And said, with a tip of his hat,<br />"Merry Christmas to all,<br />And I'm sorry for Maps!"</p><p><img src="/files/u330237/2012/11/1225_roundedrectangles_0.jpg" /></p><p><em>Find Michael Simon on Twitter or App.net&nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/morlium">@morlium</a>.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/columns/rounded_rectangles_twas_last_night_maclife#commentsBlogsappleChristmasColumnsDesignHolidayspoetryRounded RectanglesTim CookFeaturesTue, 25 Dec 2012 18:00:42 +0000Michael Simon15868 at http://www.maclife.comReport: Holiday Apps Appearing on Apple TV, Probably a Goofhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_holiday_apps_appearing_apple_tv_probably_goof
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/holiday_content_on_apple_tv_200px.png" alt="Holiday apps on Apple TV?" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />The holiday season is in full swing, so it's no surprise to see that Apple is updating its various services with holiday-themed content. However, an eagle-eyed Apple TV noted the curious appearance of holiday apps in a place where they shouldn't be.<br /><a href="http://9to5mac.com/2012/12/10/holiday-apps-categories-begin-appearing-in-apple-tv-menus-mistakes-or-preview-of-whats-to-come/" target="_blank"><br />9to5Mac is reporting</a> that the holiday-themed sections spreading across Apple's iTunes Store have made their way to the Apple TV, which is showing at least sections touting apps for the little black media box which to date has had none.<br /><br /><a href="http://macosken.posterous.com/indications-of-appy-holidays-for-apple-tv" target="_blank">According to eagle-eyed Mac OS Ken</a>, his Apple TV is offering up apps for "Snow Sports" as well as "Apps for Shopping," "Holiday Cooking Apps," "Deep Games for Holiday Downtime" and others.<br /><br />As you may recall, Apple has not yet extended its app ecosystem to the Apple TV, which now runs a variation of iOS. That hasn't prevented others from hacking the box to run the likes of Plex and even a web browser and media player available via aTV Flash, but many believe Apple will eventually open the Apple TV to apps as well.<br /><br />That day has yet to come, which makes this 9to5Mac discovery something of an anomaly. Selecting the aforementioned holiday banners leads to an empty page, so there are no such apps to be found on the Apple TV as yet.<br /><br />The report compares the presumed glitch to a similar problem that plagued Apple's launch of the iTunes Store in Russia earlier this month, where advertisements for adult websites were inadvertently being displayed within iTunes 11. That issue was quickly resolved, and it's likely Apple will also catch their mistake here as well.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of Mac OS Ken)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_holiday_apps_appearing_apple_tv_probably_goof#commentsNewsApple TVApple TV jailbreakAppsaTV Flash (black)ChristmasHolidayholiday appsiOS 6iTunes StoreRumorsMon, 10 Dec 2012 14:39:48 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15771 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: OS X Betas Now via Mac App Store, Surface Flops, Zite 2.0http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_os_x_betas_now_mac_app_store_surface_flops_zite_20
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/zite_2.0_icon_200px.png" alt="Zite 2.0 icon" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Much has already been written about Microsoft's foray into tablets, and the news keeps getting worse for Redmond. This week, a brokerage firm in Boston is writing off the Surface with Windows RT as a loser for not one, not two but three reasons -- only one of which is shared by Apple's market-leading iPad. Can you guess the other two? If not, read on to find out what they are.</p><h3>Latest OS X 10.8.3 Beta Allows Updates via Mac App Store</h3><p><a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/12/05/developers-can-now-update-os-x-beta-builds-through-software-update" target="_blank">AppleInsider is reporting</a> that Apple's elves have delivered yet another beta of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.3 to developers on Wednesday in the form of build 12D32. The latest build is mostly noteworthy because it allows developers to now download such patches through the Mac App Store's Updates tab, rather than having to grab it directly from Cupertino's developer website. That means that new seeds will push a notification to the Mac App Store in addition to Apple's traditional email heads-up, which should make it easier on developers moving forward.</p><h3>Is Microsoft's Surface Already a Flop?</h3><p><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20121205/lack-of-distribution-is-killing-surface/" target="_blank">AllThingsD is reporting</a> that Microsoft's Surface with Windows RT may be a flop only weeks after its debut, with Boston-based brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton claiming the company is "likely to sell just 500,000 to 600,000" in the last three months of this year, a steep drop from the company's expectations of one to two million -- especially if they have manufactured three to five million, as widely reported. So what's to blame aside from lack of consumer interest? The firm blames it on a "lack of distribution," which is putting it mildly, given that Surface is only available at Microsoft Stores. However, the "mixed reviews" and iPad-matching price point "certainly don't help" either.</p><h3>Zite 2.0 Introduces Complete Redesign</h3><p>Popular news aggregator Zite is back this week with <a href="http://blog.zite.com/2012/12/04/introducing-zite-2-0/" target="_blank">an all-new version 2.0 of its free, universal iOS app</a>. The app is now smarter than before, serving up 40,000 different topics across every type of interest. Because of this, the Top Stories category now offers even more of what you love, all with a fresh coat of paint on top of it. Categories can now be reordered to your liking, and new Facebook integration can even pull interests based on your history with the social network. The new app is centered on discovery, and the first thing users will discover is a completely new icon featuring a cartoon owl as the app's new mascot. Zite 2.0 is now available from the App Store, and the company is promising updates for its other supported platforms next year.</p><h3>Walt Mossberg Claims iTunes Update Will Restore Missing Features</h3><p>The grand old man of Apple reviews, AllThingsD's Walt Mossberg, <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20121204/itunes-gets-an-upgrade-without-missing-a-beat/" target="_blank">has weighed in on iTunes 11 this week</a>, and he had largely praise for Cupertino's latest version. However, sandwich into his "Drawbacks" section is a little tidbit where Mossberg notes that "a feature that finds duplicate entries is missing," which has raised the ire of other longtime users as well. The good news is what comes next, as Mossberg notes, "Apple says it will soon be restored in a minor update of the program," which will also fix a bug causing some album covers to go missing while in album view.</p><h3>MacPhun Offers Free Cartoonatic Christmas Photo App</h3><p>Thanks to timeless classics like Charlie Brown, cartoons and Christmas go together like peanut butter and jelly. Seizing on this trend, the folks at MacPhun have released an update to their newly-free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/cartoonatic/id420905479?mt=8" target="_blank">Cartoonatic Christmas</a> app for the iPhone. Featuring 10 cartoon filters and nine soundtracks for your animated masterpieces, Cartoonatic Christmas also offers a 99-cent Premium version available as an in-app purchase -- but absolutely free for owners of the company's ColorStrokes app -- which adds three additional cartoon filters and no ads. Cartoonatic Christmas 3.1 is now available from the App Store. <br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_os_x_betas_now_mac_app_store_surface_flops_zite_20#commentsNewsApp StoreChristmasDevelopersfree appsitunes 11Microsoft SurfaceOS X Mountain Lionovernight recapZiteiPadMacThu, 06 Dec 2012 13:32:56 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15740 at http://www.maclife.comReport: Apple Wants Streaming TV Service by Christmashttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_apple_wants_streaming_tv_service_christmas
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/apple_tv_on_a_tv_200px.jpg" alt="Apple TV" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Fed up with Netflix? Frustrated by Hulu Plus? There may be another option available to you by the time Santa Claus comes down the chimney this year if Apple has anything to say about it -- assuming they can get content providers on board.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/gorilla_tactics_OrVVl5tgFF7BeEO8lVU4eJ" target="_blank"><em>The New York Post</em> is reporting</a> that Apple is going full-steam ahead with its plans to launch a streaming television service by Christmas 2012, and they’re apparently going to do it with or without the support of content providers.<br /><br />So what’s the problem? Apparently, Apple wants control of every aspect of the new service, including what price the content is offered at. According to one source familiar with the negotiations, Apple’s stance can be summed up as “we decide the price, we decide what content.”<br /><br />Or as another media executive puts it: “They want everything for nothing,” which seems to mirror negotiations in the past with publishers and music labels, most of whom eventually came around to Apple’s way of thinking.<br /><br />“Apple is pitching the idea of offering channels as apps for its devices, including its Apple TV set-top box,” the report reveals. “It’s unclear whether it would group the apps together and charge a fee -- similar to a cable-TV subscription -- or offer the channels on an a la carte basis.”<br /><br />The latest push is nothing new -- Apple reportedly attempted a similar coup back in 2009, offering “to share in the ad revenue rather than pay a distribution fee like Netflix,” a model that has worked mostly well for rival Hulu Plus.<br /><br />“They want to create the interface, and they wanted to work with the cable guys to manage bandwidth across the TV and broadband pipeline,” said another source familiar with the talks.<br /><br />So where does Apple’s fabled television set fit into these plans? According to sources, Cupertino’s first priority is bringing this TV service to life, which makes sense -- get the content first and then offer the product to watch it on.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_apple_wants_streaming_tv_service_christmas#commentsNewsApple Inc.Apple TVChristmascontentHulu PlusiTunesnetflixStreaming mediasubscriptionstelevision showsFri, 02 Mar 2012 13:04:49 +0000J.R. Bookwalter13434 at http://www.maclife.comTuesday Recap: Apple Fines in Italy, iPhone 5 Rumors, Christmas Day Activationshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/tuesday_recap_apple_fines_italy_iphone_5_rumors_christmas_day_activations
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/flurry_activations_christmas_2011_200px.png" alt="Flurry Christmas Day activations chart" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />So much for a slow news week on the Apple beat! There’s plenty to report about everyone’s favorite tech company today, between antitrust fines in Italy, new iPhone 5 rumors, activations for both iOS and Android on Christmas Day and even the debut of the iPhone 4S in mainland China. Ready to soak it all in? Read on for all the news that’s fit to print for Tuesday, December 27, 2011.</p><h3>Apple Slapped with Anti-Trust Fines in Italy</h3><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/27/us-apple-idUSTRE7BQ0ER20111227" target="_blank">Reuters is reporting</a> that Italian regulators have fined Apple and its subsidiaries there with a fine of 900,000 EU “for failing to adequately inform customers about their rights to product guarantees and assistance.” That amounts to about $1.2 million, which is a slap on the wrist for Apple, who allegedly failed to properly disclose that its products came with a two-year warranty under Italian law, instead pushing their customers to purchase AppleCare at additional cost, which just so happened to overlap with the required warranty period. Apple Sales International, Apple Italia and Apple Retail Italia were all targeted in the antitrust complaint.</p><h3>Rumor: “Completely Redesigned” iPhone Coming in Fall, 2012?</h3><p>It’s not even the end of the year yet, and already the crazy train has left the station with rumors about next year’s iPhone. <a href="http://www.bgr.com/2011/12/27/apple-to-launch-completely-redesigned-iphone-in-fall-2012/" target="_blank">According to BGR</a>, “a close source” is revealing that Apple plans to stick to its new autumn release schedule for the iPhone 5, which is said to “use a rubber or plastic material -- similar to the material used in the company’s bumper cases -- that will be built into the new iPhone case.” The assumption here is this material “will be used as a bezel surround the front edge of the phone,” serving two purposes: First, to join the glass screen to a new aluminum back, and also to “cover a redesigned antenna system that surrounds the device.” The back case is said to echo the look of the company’s iPad 2, and also sticks with recent rumors that the display size will increase to “around four inches.” We’re just happy to hear there won’t be another new iPhone come June… whew!</p><h3>iOS, Android Activations Off the Chart on Christmas Day</h3><p>It’s not much of a surprise to learn that the App Store gets a huge spike in sales on Christmas Day, as new iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users unwrap their gifts and get down to cashing in the gift cards that likely came with them. So how many new devices were activated? <a href="http://blog.flurry.com/bid/79682/iOS-Android-Shatter-Records-on-Christmas-Day" target="_blank">According to Flurry</a>, both iOS and Android appear to have had a record-breaking Christmas Day this year, with 6.8 million devices activated on December 25, compared to an average of 1.5 million each day between December 1 and 20. That’s a 353 percent increase -- a huge spike compared to last year’s Christmas Day activations of 2.8 million devices and a 140 percent increase year over year. Flurry Analytics are used in more than 140,000 apps, which are said to detect roughly 100 percent of all new iOS and Android devices activated each day.</p><h3>iPhone 4S Likely Coming to Mainland China By January 23</h3><p><a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/12/27/apple_to_launch_iphone_4s_in_mainland_china_before_jan_23.html" target="_blank">AppleInsider is reporting</a> that all systems are go for Apple to debut the iPhone 4S in mainland China sometime before Monday, January 23, 2012 -- which is ironically the start of the Chinese New Year. According to China’s People Daily, Apple received “China Compulsory Certification” for the handset from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on December 22, the last piece of the logistics puzzle prior to a launch of the device “at the beginning of January, 2012” -- which undoubtedly means the Chinese New Year, rather than the one we’ll be enjoying this weekend. The iPhone 4S already made its debut in Hong Kong back in early November where it sold out immediately, so mainland China looks to be the next major coup for Cupertino.</p><h3>AT&amp;T Concludes Acquisition of FLO TV Spectrum</h3><p>The government may have rebuffed AT&amp;T’s attempts to absorb rival T-Mobile, but it had no problem landing some additional spectrum from Qualcomm this week. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/atandt-completes-acquisition-of-qualcomms-flo-tv-spectrum/" target="_blank">According to Engadget</a>, AT&amp;T has completed its acquisition of a big chunk of the 700MHz spectrum which once powered the ill-fated FLO TV. AT&amp;T paid out a cool $1.9 billion to Qualcomm and plans to repurpose those radio waves for their fledgling LTE network, a mere five days after being granted approval of the deal. It may not be as sexy or exciting as gobbling up T-Mo, but those data-hungry LTE lovers among you might still have something to be excited about.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy Flurry Analytics)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/tuesday_recap_apple_fines_italy_iphone_5_rumors_christmas_day_activations#commentsNewsandroidantitrustAppleCareAT&TChinaChristmasdaily recapFlurryiPhone 5 rumorsItalyQualcommiPhoneMacTue, 27 Dec 2011 23:48:58 +0000J.R. Bookwalter12992 at http://www.maclife.comThe Week's 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, December 23http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_december_23
<!--paging_filter-->http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_december_23#commentsGalleryNewsApple TVApple vs. HTCAT&TChristmashtcITCMacTech Conferenceonlivepatent warsPatentsT-MobileiPadiPhoneiPodMacSat, 24 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000J Keirn-Swanson12981 at http://www.maclife.comiOS Games Weekly Roundup: Games Go on Sale, PopCap Releases Plants vs. Zombies Rap for Charityhttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/ios_games_weekly_roundup_games_go_sale_popcap_releases_plants_vs_zombies_rap_charity
<!--paging_filter--><p>Christmas Day is just around the corner, and that means one thing for iOS gamers: lots of new iOS owners. Why is that good news? Because companies are crawling over themselves to get a piece of this massive new influx of gamers. So while you might not see a ton of new games releasing this week, all the best older ones are on sale. Set aside some money this year and stock up on games for the next couple months.</p><h3>Mega-sales Galore</h3><p>It’s that time of year again! But we don’t mean the “giving season”. It’s the season when Apple takes a break from tabulating the highest app sales. So whoever ends up on top this week will stay there for an extra week, which is critical during that first week after Christmas when millions of people have new iOS devices. As a result, nearly everybody puts all their best apps on sale to try to get on top of the most popular lists. There are hundreds of games on sale, far too many to list here, but type EA, Gameloft, Telltale or Square Enix into the App Store search bar and revel in the savings.</p><h3>PopCap Releases Plants vs Zombie Rap for Charity</h3><p>To calculate the number of times PopCap has started a charity drive we’d need to be either barefoot or wearing sandals. But this new venture caused us to take notice again. They’re releasing a PvZ rap called Wabby Wabbo sung by PvZ’s lunatic babbler Crazy Dave. It’s available for $0.99 on iTunes and all profits go to Concern Worldwide which, appropriately, helps developing nations grow crops.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/ios_games_weekly_roundup_games_go_sale_popcap_releases_plants_vs_zombies_rap_charity#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsChristmasColumnsEAGameloftHolidaysios gamesiOS games roundupiOS Games Weekly RoundupPopCapSquare EnixtelltaleiPadiPhoneiPodGamesFri, 23 Dec 2011 17:38:02 +0000Andrew Groen12974 at http://www.maclife.com